October 28, 2023

Preparing Furniture for Storage: Protection & Preservation

Preparing Furniture for Storage is extremely important. It helps to keep your furniture in good condition and prevents it from being damaged in the move to the storage facility or during its stay within the storage unit.

Here we are going to talk you through what you should consider doing before storing furniture and how to best prepare it for a short or long stay within a storage facility.

Understanding the Importance of Preparing Furniture for Storage

Whether you need to store your furniture during a move or store it before preparing to sell it, storing it correctly is important.

If you are storing it in order to sell, you will want the furniture to keep its monetary value. The amount of people buying second hand furniture has grown as people become more concerned about sustainability so having well-looked-after pieces of furniture could lead to large earnings from the sale.

Of course, some items that you store will have large amounts of sentimental value which is oftentimes even more important than monetary value. It is important that it is all stored correctly because improper storage can lead to furniture getting damaged. In the wrong types of conditions, furniture can become warped, mouldy and become a nice home for a family of mice. Storing your furniture correctly will help to alleviate all of these problems.

Key Factors to Consider Before Storing Furniture

There are a number of factors that you must consider before you store your furniture which will aid you in choosing the right storage facility and will keep your furniture in top condition.

Environmental Factors

Humidity can have a detrimental effect on furniture, particularly pieces made of wood. Moisture in the air can get into the grain of wooden furniture and cause it to expand and warp. With fabric items, high levels of humidity can cause them to grow mould and mildew.

Temperature fluctuations also have the potential to cause damage with wooden furniture again being the most sensitive to these changes. Cold temperatures can cause wood to crack and warp. Hot temperatures can cause it to dry out and split. It is important that there is a consistent temperature within your storage unit.

Duration of Storage

It is important to take into consideration how long you need to store your furniture. Storing it for a long-term period will require much more preparation and consideration for where you decide to store it.

For long-term storage, items will need a thorough clean, will need to be disassembled and the correct unit will need to be found, allowing your furniture to be protected from any damage.

Types of Furniture Materials

What materials your furniture is made of will have to be factored in when you begin looking at storage facilities.

Wooden furniture needs a storage space that is temperature-controlled and has the right level of moisture in the air, keeping the humidity at an optimum level.
Leather furniture is also best kept in a temperature-controlled environment with a steady level of humidity. Fluctuating temperatures and changes in humidity can age leather furniture.
Fabric furniture and soft furnishing need a steady level of humidity. High humidity can lead to mould and mildew growth.

Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Furniture for Storage

Preparing Furniture for Storage is the first necessary step to storing your furniture within a storage unit. Without prepping it beforehand you risk your furniture becoming damaged and losing its longevity.

Cleaning the Furniture

All of your furniture will need to be cleaned and thoroughly dried before you store it. Depending on what your furniture is made from, there will be different techniques as to how you clean it.

Wooden furniture is best cleaned with a mixture of mild soap and warm water. You must make sure that it is completely dry before you move on to wrapping it for storage. Any moisture left on the wood could cause irreversible damage.
With leather pieces of furniture, such as a sofa, you must first hoover it, removing all the cushions and getting into every nook and cranny. This will remove dust and any food residue that could attract pests. Next, it is important to give it a good clean. There are leather cleaners available to buy but you may want to wait to use this when you have retrieved it from storage. Before putting it into storage, warm water will be good for giving it a clean but make sure that your cloth is damp and not soaking wet. Too much water could cause a stain.
For fabric and upholstered furniture, your best bet is a commercial upholstery cleaner.

What is most important is that you allow your furniture to dry before moving on to the next step.

Dismantling Larger Pieces

Dismantling larger pieces of furniture is the next step and although it may feel like a lot of work it will benefit you and your furniture in the long run.

Dismantling larger pieces such as beds and wardrobes will be a benefit to you because it will make it much easier for you to move them from your home to your storage facility. It also benefits the furniture as it will make it easier to store and protect it from damage.

When it comes to dismantling your furniture it is important that you take your time and refer back to the instructions which came when you bought it. This will allow you to dismantle it without damaging it or you. If you have misplaced your instructions, try doing an online search as many instruction books are now available to view online.

Protecting Surfaces and Corners

Using protective material to wrap your furniture will help you to protect it during the moving process and whilst it is in storage. What type of protective material you use will be dependent on what your furniture is made from.

It is recommended that you wrap leather furniture in a cotton blanket. Cotton is best for leather as it is a breathable material and it will stop mould and mildew from growing.

For wooden and fabric furniture it is good to also use blankets or dust sheets but they can then be wrapped in a second layer of bubble wrap. Depending on what type of furniture you are storing, you may also want to consider furniture pads and corner protectors.

Packing Soft Furnishings

Along with your larger pieces of furniture, you will also need to think about how best to store your soft furnishings such as cushions and mattresses.

It is a good idea to give them a hoover or clean beforehand and then you can use vacuum bags for cushions as this will protect them and allow them to take up less space. For a mattress, you will need to invest in a protective mattress cover.

Monitoring and Maintenance in Storage

Periodic Checks

You will want to go to your storage unit and make periodic checks to ensure everything is okay. If you have chosen the right storage facility there should be no problems but, for your own peace of mind, it will be good to go and check it out. Making regular checks will also allow you to quickly rectify anything that isn’t right such as if there is a pest infestation.

Refreshing Protective Measures

Making periodic checks will also allow you to change any desiccant or replace any protective coverings when and if you feel that it is necessary.

Choosing the Right Storage Unit

Now that you’ve prepared your furniture for Storage, you are ready to move on to looking into which storage unit will be right for you and your furniture.

First things first, you will need to think about how often you want to access your unit as this will allow you to see the type of location you need to be looking at. Next, you will have to think about what size and type of unit you will need.

Many storage facilities have a large range of units available so if you are finding it confusing, get in touch with the storage facility and their team will help you.

The teams in each of our stores are ready to help you with any questions or queries you may have. Head to our website to find out how to contact your local store.